Clutch device.



Rgeruowms. CLUTCH DEVICE.

AP PLICATION FILED JUNE 3| I915.

Patented May 23, 1916.

Witnesses 4 7 Attorneys arns ATNT VETQ.

RICHARD G. DOWINS, 0F TURTIQE CREEK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASS-IGNOR 0F ONE-THIRD TO FRANK S. MADDOCK, OF TURTLE CREEK, PENNSYLVANIA, AND ONE-THIRD 'lO ANTON J. PFISTERER, OF EAST PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

CLUTCH DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, RICHARD G. DO'WINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Turtle Creek, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Clutch Device, of which th following is a specification. The present invention appertams to clutches, and aims to provide a novel and improved clutch device adapted particularly for use in varlable speed transmissions,

although the device may be employed in divers capacities. I

It is'the object of the invention to provide a clutch device of unique construction and operation for effectively making and breaking the connection between the driving and driven elements, the present clutch device having improved features and details ofconstruction to enhance the utility and efficiency scribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a cross section of the mechanism taken on the line 1-1 of'Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a fragmental-longitudinal section of the mechanism illustrating the clutchdevice.

Although a portion of a variable speed transmission is illustrated and described, it

is torbe understood that the clutch device may be employed in-various capacities, the transmission beingv shown chiefly for the purpose of disclosing the utility of the clutch device.

The transmission'is confined within a suitable casing 1, and the driven shaft-or element. 4 is journaledthrough a bearing 5 carried by one end of the casing 1.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed-June 3, 1915. Serial No. 31.926.

counter shaft 6 forming the driving element is mounted within the casing. A gear 12 is keyed upon the shaft 6 and co'tiperates with gear carried by the driven shaft 4. The gear 12 intermeshes with a spur gear 16 carried by the driven shaft. The shaft 6 is also connected to agear 17 carried by the shaft 1. a

Instead of the shaft 6 being the driving element, and the shaft 1 being the driven element, the order may be reversed so that the shaft 6 is driven from the shaft 1. The gist of the inventionresides in the means employed for making and breaking the connection between the shaft 1 and the gear wheels cooperating therewith.

As a'means for. mounting the gears'l6 and 17 upon the shaft 1, so that the said gears may normally rotate relative to the shaft 4 without rotating the shaft therewith, a bearing 19 is secured upon the shaft 4 within the casing 1 and has an outturned annular flange 20 overlapping the'hub 21 v of the gear 16. A bearing 26 is secured to the shaft 4 at that side of the gear 17 opposite the gear 16, and has an outstanding annular flange 27 overlappingthe hub 28 of the gear 17. A bearing 29 carried by the casing 1 is disposed between the gears 16 and 17, and has outstanding annularflanges 30 overlapping the hubs 21 and 28 of the gear wheels 16 and 17, respectively. The gear. wheels 16 and 17 are thus rotatably carried by the respective bearings which are mounted upon the shaft 4 and within the casing, the hubs of the gears being journaled in said bearings. A longitudinally movable clutch member 341 is mounted upon said shaft within the gears 16 and 17. The shaft at has a squared or non-circular portion 35 upon which the clutch member 34 is disposed, theclutchmember being rotatable with the shaft 4 althoughit may be shifted longitudina-lly;thereon. The clutch member 34; is employed forconnecting either of the gears 16 and 17 to the drivenshaft.

The clutch member has the opposite tapered or frusto-pyramidal end portions 36 within the respective gears, and a plurality of wedges 37 bear against the sides of each portion 36 within the respective gear. The sides of the wedges 37 adjacent'the portions 36 are flat, while the sides of the wedges adjacent the hubs of the gears are curved to I conform to the internal curvature of the hubs. The sides of the portions 36 have longitudinal dove-tailed tongues or ribs 38, and the adjacent sides of the wedges 37 have dove-tailed grooves 89 receiving the tongues 38, whereby the wedges 37 are guided for longitudinal movement relative'to the clutch member, and are constrained to rotate more effectively with the clutch member; The wedges 3 are confined between the bearings of the gears, to prevent the wedges from shifting longitudinally, but to enable them to shift laterally or radially into and out of engagement with the hubs of the respective gears. The curved sidesof the Wedges 37 are provided with longitudinalqgrooves 40 in which longitudinal rollers 41 arezseated, the rollers 41 projecting slightly from the curved sides ofthe'wedges to engage the hubs of the gears when the wedges of one set are expanded. v 7

As a means foroperating'the clutch member, a rock shaft 42 is journaled through one wall. ofthecasing l and within thebearing- 29 and a fork 44 is carried by therock shaft 42. The arms of the fork 44 are received by annular groove 45 with which the clutch V memberis provided between the portions 36 thereof. The clutch members may rotate with respect tothe fork 44,.and when the fork 44 is swung about its transverse axis,

" the clutch member will be shifted longitudinally properly. The shaft .42 may be connected in any suitable manner to'an opera ting lever, whereby the clutch member can be operated properlyfor connecting the 7 shaft 6-with one of the gears carried by the shaft4', according to the speed desired.

l/Vhen the clutch member 34 is at neutral or intermediate positions, the wedges37 may be spaced from the walls of the hubs of the gears,;so that the gears can rotate. freely clutch member34 to be-rotated with the The. friction thus created will cause. the

' gear el 6 ,,for rotating the shaft 4. j The gear COpIt EI' OI' fhII patent maybe obtainedfor five cents each, by addressing the e m 'sisibn g m 16 being of considerably larger diameter ing the clutch member Y In testimonythatlclaim the foregoingas' than the gear12,willcausethe shaft '4 to be rotated'at less'velo'cit'y than the shaft 6. f When the [respective rollers '41 are being j 7 brought into engagement with the hub 21 of V a the gear 16, the rollers gradually gripthe hub 21 and rotate the clutch member 34 with the gear 16,jso asto'av0ida Jerking strain, as will be evident. 'YVhen a differentspeed is desired,'the rockshaft'42 is swung in the opposite direction whereby the fork 44 thereof willmove the clutch member 34 longitudinally -to retractYthe respective wedges 37 out of engagement with the hub 2l ated by the clutch member 34'will be expanded into engagement with the hub 28 of the gear 7 17. .Thegear 17. is thus-connected with the shaft 4.

with the l drawings the advantages and V at- Having thus d scribed thje'invention,

'is claimed as newiszp V V i 1.:In a clutch dev ce, a shaft, a pair of bearings, aarotary member located between of the gear 16, while the other wedges 37 oper- '7 I Fromthe-foregoing, taken connection said bearings'andjournaledthereon, a clutch and rotarymembers andheld b tw Said bearings. l r V member slidable upon the shaftandhaving a tapered portionwithin' the rotary member,

and wedges between said taperediportionlegg V '2.'In a clutch devicefa shaft, 'three bearings, a pair of rotary'members disposed be! H tween said bearingsand journaled thereon,

one of saidbearings being disposed between: the rotary members, a clutc'hmember slide" able upon said shaft andhavingopposite l1 tapered portions withinthe rotary members, 1

wedges between said tapered portions; and

rotary membersand held between the re -5 1 spective "bearingsthe' clutch member having.

an annular. groove between said portions, H

and an actuating memben'carried by/said. i

bearing and receivedby said groove for'slidmy ownjl have hereto aflixedmy signature f, A;

,in the presence oftwowitnesses..

Downs.-

' lwashingto n, D. G. r 

